Lithuanian ruling coalition denies plans to form minority government

The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) has dismissed suggestions that the ruling coalition is considering a shift to minority government, despite internal disagreements over the Kapčiamiesčio military training ground project, national broadcaster LRT reports.

LSDP leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius described Tuesday’s coalition council meeting as “productive and constructive,” with no major conflicts emerging. “There were no strong emotions, neither particularly negative nor overly positive,” he said in an interview with LRT’s Dienos tema programme.

The meeting addressed the contentious vote on the Kapčiamiesčio poligonas (training ground), where some coalition members—including representatives from the Farmers and Greens Union and the “Nemuno aušra” (Dawn of Nemunas) group—opposed the proposal. Sinkevičius acknowledged dissatisfaction among coalition partners but stressed that the issue remains unresolved, with further discussions and votes pending.

Asked whether the vote signaled a breakdown in coalition unity, Sinkevičius rejected the idea, noting that the project still faces additional procedural stages. He confirmed that both coalition partners expressed discontent with the initial vote results, with “Nemuno aušra” leader indicating that more of its members might support the proposal in future ballots.

Responding to President Gitanas Nausėda’s recent criticism that the vote exposed the coalition’s weakness, Sinkevičius stated that the coalition takes the president’s remarks seriously but maintains that the issue will be thoroughly reviewed in party meetings later in April. “We are not looking to form a minority government,” he emphasised. “Any alternative must be clearly defined and avoid deepening a state crisis.”

The LSDP leader also downplayed concerns about coalition stability, arguing that disagreements on individual votes do not define the government’s overall functionality. “The Seimas does not operate on a single vote,” he said, pointing to ongoing negotiations on budget and defence funding as examples of continued collaboration.

Sinkevičius will present the coalition’s achievements, public opinion data, and potential alternatives to the Social Democratic Party council in mid-April for further assessment.